Broadband networks in ten major cities across the UK are to be boosted after the government announced a programme of additional funding.

In his autumn statement chancellor George Osborne confirmed that an additional £100m would be spent on broadband infrastructure in London, Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.

He said that a further six "super connected" cities would be identified in the 2012 Budget.

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Osborne made the announcement as part of a £5bn spending commitment on 500 infrastructure projects, including roads, railways and airports, to be pursued over the next decade.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Osborne said: "For the first time we are identifying over 500 infrastructure projects we want to see built over the next decade and beyond. Roads, railways, airport capacity, power stations, waste facilities, broadband networks.

"It means creating new superfast digital networks for companies across our country. These do not exist today. See what countries like China or Brazil are building, and you'll also see why we risk falling behind the rest of the world.

"Our great cities are at the heart of our regional economies. And we will help bring world leading, superfast broadband and Wi-Fi connections to ten of them - including the capitals of all four nations."

The funds will be primarily used to reach so called "not-spot" areas of limited or no internet coverage in major UK cities.

A spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport told the BBC that companies such as BT, Virgin Media and Fujitsu will be able to bid for a portion of the money.